According to court documents, there Burrough requested that his James put fertilizer on the lawn and then turned to complete another task in the garage.

James, allegedly upset by being asked to do manual labor, said, “Oh, yeah, watch this.” He then proceeded to shoot his step-father, who was standing on a ladder, in the back . According to the Post, when Burrough fell, James stood over him and continued to shoot as he laid on the ground.

Davis said James used a handgun — not his stepfather’s service weapon — in the crime, and detectives have not yet recovered it. They believe James, a former D.C. firefighter, is still in the area and possibly armed with the weapon.

Newell, who was off-duty at the time of the shooting, was a 24-year veteran of the District’s police force. He was pronounced dead at the scene, county police said.

Officers responded to the home around 8 p.m. Monday night. Believing the suspect was still inside, they set up a barricade. But by 3 a.m., police had determined that James had left the immediate area.

The suspect is described as a black man, 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and black boots. Police said he is believed to be armed with a gun and dangerous.